Popular Spanish Sayings

Learn Spanish with common phrases, proverbs and quotes. Spanish Language Resources with don Quijote.

No hay dos sin tres

Literal: There is no two without three

Similar Saying: Everything happens in threes

Meaning: If something happens once, it could be a one-time thing. If it happens twice, it will most likely happen again.


Nuevo rey, nueva ley

Literal: New king, new law

Similar Saying: There’s a new sheriff in town, the rules have changed

Meaning: It refers to a person who holds different ideals and therefore going to run things differently.


Más vale maña que fuerza

Literal: Better skill than strength

Similar Saying: Brains over brawn

Meaning: Intelligence is better than physical strength


Más se consigue lamiendo que mordiendo

Literal: More is achieved by licking than by biting

Similar Saying: You catch more flies with honey than vinegar

Meaning: You can win people to your side more easily by gentle persuasion and flattery than by hostile confrontation.


Favor con favor se paga

Literal: Favor with favor, it pays

Similar Saying: You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours

Meaning: You do a favor for me and I´ll do a favor for you; If you do something for me that I cannot do for myself, I will do something for you that you cannot do for yourself.


Dar gato por liebre

Literal: To give cat for hare

Similar Saying: To rip someone off

Meaning: To give someone something of a lower quality than what was promised


El que tiene boca se equivoca

Literal: The person who has a mouth makes mistakes

Similar Saying: Nobody’s perfect

Meaning: Everyone makes mistakes


Gastar saliva

Literal: To spend saliva

Similar Saying: To waste your breath

Meaning: To say something that will be ignored or have no effect


Hacer la vista gorda

Literal: To do the fat view

Similar Saying: To turn a blind eye

Meaning: To pretend not to notice


Cada loco con su tema

Literal: Every crazy person with their issue

Similar Saying: Different strokes for different folks

Meaning: Everyone has their own way of doing things